Hon. Nellie Cournoyea's return to Question W20-12(2), asked by Mr. Nerysoo on March 2, 1992:
1) Has any Member in this House criticized or questioned the services that are being offered by the medical professionals or nursing staff? As of March 2, 1992, the department was not aware of any criticism of the services being offered by medical professionals or nursing staff at the Inuvik Regional Health Board. The concerns that had been raised to that point dealt with administration and management of Inuvik Regional Hospital. Most recently, March 25 and March 26, there have been several questions concerning the absences of physicians.
2) Have any Members in this House criticized or questioned the services that are being provided by the administrative staff? The Department of Health is aware of some concerns about Inuvik Regional Hospital operations brought to the attention of the MLA for Inuvik and the MLA for Mackenzie Delta by their constituents. Subsequently, the specific concerns were brought to the attention of the Minister of Health by MLAs through correspondence and tabling of letters of concern and a petition in the Legislative Assembly.
3) Would the Minister indicate if any meetings have taken place at, or in the Inuvik Regional Hospital, where such concerns were raised by the staff or expressed by the management of the lnuvik Regional Health Board? The following items have been brought to the attention of the Inuvik Regional Health Board and administrative staff, to advise them of concerns raised in the Assembly: a) copies of the honourable Member for Inuvik's statements made during the second session of the 12th Assembly on February 17 and 20, 1992; b) the letters of concern regarding Inuvik Regional Hospital, tabled in the House on February 20, 1992; and c) Petition 2-12(2) presented by the MLA from Inuvik on February 25, 1992.
The trustees of Inuvik Regional Health Board met in full session on March 11 and 12, 1992. At that meeting the board members discussed in detail the current state of employee management relations at the hospital in Inuvik. On the instructions of the board, senior management implemented discussions between employees and their immediate supervisors. The purpose of these meetings was to encourage staff to discuss their concerns with their immediate supervisors and to help identify potential solutions. The board has written to all staff assuring them that the problems that are identified, and more importantly their solutions, will be given serious consideration by both senior management and the board.
The executive committee of the board will be meeting in the near future, and the department will be obtaining a further report on the matter.